Japanese cyber weapon is leaked

THE JAPANESE DEFENCE MINISTRY is developing a computer virus that can defend against cyber attacks, according to a Japanese newspaper.

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported the cyber weapon has been tested in a closed network environment after development that was launched in 2008. The Defence Ministry's Technical Research and Development Institute later outsourced the project's development to Fujitsu.

Sources said that the Japanese Defence and Foreign Ministries have begun to consider drafting legislation following frequent attacks to the country in recent months.

Cyberweapons are apparently already in use in countries such as the United States and China.

The virus is able to trace cyber-attack sources and can identify the immediate source of an attack as well as the computers used to transmit the virus. It reportedly can also disable the attacking program and collect relevant information. µ